If you like classic country, and Porter's last album, "Wagonmaster" has that classic country sound, try listening on line to Bill Malone's show "Back to the Country" online on WORT_FM.org from Madison WI on Wednesday AM.
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Have you always been a man of faith?
More so now than I ever have been in my lifetime. When I went into the surgery I was really scared, because the doctor had told me this is the most serious operation there is. I prayed about that. I asked God to go with me, and He really did. I wasn't afraid anymore. That was a great feeling. I never had that feeling before, never experienced anything like that in my life before.
You found religion just last year?
I just found myself. I [became] a lot more serious with my belief. I really experienced a close friendship and relationship with God that I never felt before in my life.
Are you looking forward to touring? Or are you slowing down?
I really look forward to it more than I [used to]. I don't try to push myself too much. I can tell when I need to rest a while, and I do. I just take my time in doing things, more than I did before. But I can do the things that I've done before and do them well. I really enjoy the fact that I can still do it. That's one of the things that was so neat about this album. It was so easy for me to do.
What do you think of the younger generation of country musicians?
I listen to all the guys I'm associated with: Vince Gill and Alan Jackson. A couple of weeks ago I attended the ceremony for the newest members for the hall of fame. You can always tell if a guy knows where his roots are and what he's doing. I don't really care for [country music today] because I think it's too planned, too slick. I like the real thing. I like George Strait really well because there's no BS about him. The young guys, I think they really don't know how to be good yet.
What advice would you give them?
"Study your craft more." There's a reason somebody is good. It's because they work hard on their craft and work hard on their career. And they want to be good.
You're famous for your flashy suits. On a special night like tonight, when you're celebrating your 50th anniversary at the Opry, how do you decide what to wear?
[Laughs] White has a way of making you stand out in a crowd. Any color you might have, white will always bring the eyes on you. So I'll show you my suit. [He goes to his bathroom and pulls out a whine rhinestone suit.]
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